A South African woman's recent experience riding in a driverless taxi in the US has left social media buzzing and divided opinions back home. Vanessa Botha, an Afrikaans woman, took to Facebook to share her fascinating journey, showcasing a car where the driver's seat was ominously empty.
The video, uploaded in mid-December 2025, quickly catapulted to viral status, amassing an impressive 152K views and inciting a tidal wave of comments from viewers weighing in on the future of transport technology.
The Trio's Thrilling Adventure in Autonomous Travel
In the clip, Vanessa stands outside with two friends as they eagerly await their arrival in this futuristic taxi. With a touch of anticipation, she mentions revealing the price before they hop in, only for her to be awestruck by the sleek design of the car, emphasizing, “It has no driver!”
As the ride commenced, the trio recorded the mesmerizing sight of a spinning steering wheel, also noting the car's beeping alerting them to buckle their seatbelts. The excitement was palpable, as they journeyed through the streets with their own robot chauffeur.
Social Media Sparks Debate Over Self-Driving Cars
The mixed reactions from viewers reflect broader concerns about the implications of self-driving vehicles. For every delighted comment, there was an equally passionate counterpoint questioning the safety and viability of such technology.
Some hailed the innovation as a revolutionary step toward eliminating accidents caused by human drivers. Yet others raised significant alarms over job losses and the potential vulnerabilities of autonomous systems, especially during power outages.
User @Elizabeth Szabo voiced a crucial concern:
“During power outages, these cars freeze. San Francisco outages had a whole fleet of them stranded with passengers inside. Not cool.”
Conversely, another user, @Brian Clive Vorster, touted the benefits:
“Awesome, no more drunk driving!”
User @Gavin Kirchoff suggested a necessary precaution:
“The car should not start driving until all safety belts are fastened.”
However, @Diann T Jones was skeptical:
“No, thanks, I don't trust this. In a perfect world, it would be great, but can it see ahead when an accident is about to happen?”
For many, the allure of self-driving technology is tempered with valid concerns over reliability and safety. Watch the intriguing Facebook reel below:
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